1. Definitions. As used in this section, the term “publications” includes periodicals; newsletters; bulletins; pamphlets; leaflets; directories; bibliographies; statistical reports; brochures; plan drafts; planning documents; reports; special reports; committee and commission minutes; informational handouts; and rules and compilations of rules, regardless of number of pages, number of copies ordered, physical size, publication medium or intended audience inside or outside the agency.

2. Production and distribution. The publications of all agencies, the University of Maine System and the Maine Maritime Academy may be printed, bound and distributed, subject to Title 5, sections 43 to 46. The State Purchasing Agent may determine the style in which publications may be printed and bound, with the approval of the Governor.

3. Annual or biennial reports. Immediately upon receipt of any annual or biennial report that is not included in the Maine State Government Annual Report provided for in Title 5, sections 43 to 46, the State Purchasing Agent shall deliver at least 4 copies of that annual or biennial report to the State Librarian for exchange and library use. The State Purchasing Agent shall deliver the balance of the number of each such report to the agency that prepared the report.

4. State agency and legislative committee publications. Except as provided in subsection 5, any agency or legislative committee publishing publications, including publications in an electronic format, shall deliver 4 copies of the publications in the published format to the State Librarian. These copies must be furnished at the expense of the issuing agency. Publications not furnished upon request will be reproduced at the expense of the issuing agency. The agency or committee preparing a publication may determine the date on which a publication may be released, except as otherwise provided by law.

5. Electronic publishing. An agency or committee is required to provide the State Librarian with only one printed copy of an electronically published publication if the agency or committee provides the State Librarian with an electronically published copy for the State Librarian to upload to the online repository maintained by the Maine State Library pursuant to Title 27, section 66 or the agency or committee uploads an electronically published copy to the online repository maintained by the Maine State Library pursuant to Title 27, section 66. An electronically published publication is not required to be provided to the State Librarian if the publication is also published in print or in an electronic format and is provided to the State Librarian in compliance with subsection 4 or the publication is:

6. Forwarding of requisitions. The State Purchasing Agent, Central Printing and all other printing operations within State Government shall forward to the State Librarian upon receipt one copy of all requisitions for publications to be printed.